Wilton plant flying high with aviation fuel project award

MULTI-MILLION POUND DEAL COULD CREATE 250 JOBS FOR TEESSIDE

- By FELICITY COLLINSON Reporter

The Wilton International site where Alpek Polyester is based

TEESSIDE'S Wilton plant has been named as the new home of a multi-million pound aviation fuel project - with 250 jobs on the cards.

Wilton International, owned and operated by Semb-corp Utilities Ltd, will house the Willis Sustainable Fuels' (WSF) green aviation fuel project.

The facility aims to produce 14,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually from 2028, pledging to deliver an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.

It comes after WSF's project was awarded a £2.9m grant from the UK Department for Transport's Advanced Fuels Fund to support the scheme from July 2025 to March 2026. Various agreements for the plant were signed in April.

The plant will bring 50 highly-skilled permanent jobs and 200 construction roles to Teesside. It will convert sustainable biome-thane, sourced from waste, into aviation fuel. WSF is collaborating with Johnson Matthey and Axens as technology partners, with McDermott leading the engineering.